Ahmedabad अहमदाबाद

Ahmedabad was founded in the early fifteenth century by Sultan Ahmed Shah on the Sabarmati river, and its religious life is notable for how many traditions share the same streets. Jain, Swaminarayan, Vaishnava and Shaiva communities have all built prominent temples, and the old walled city's pol neighbourhoods contain small shrines tucked among wooden houses. The Sabarmati is also remembered for Mahatma Gandhi's ashram, though that is not a temple.

The Swaminarayan temple at Kalupur was built in the early nineteenth century and is regarded as an important seat of the Swaminarayan sampradaya, while Swaminarayan Akshardham in the nearby capital is a large modern complex. The Jagannath temple in Jamalpur is the starting point of the city's Rath Yatra, a major annual procession in the month of Ashadha, with decorated chariots and a large number of participants on the streets. Hutheesing Jain Temple is a white marble shrine built in the mid nineteenth century and is famous for its carving. ISKCON Ahmedabad is a Krishna centre with a large following. Navratri is celebrated across the city with garba dancing, and Uttarayan in January is the kite festival. Visitors to Jain temples are usually asked to leave leather items outside, and photography is often restricted. Modest dress and respectful silence are expected at all of these sites.